Defence Systems & Equipment International

“So which of these kills more effectively?”

Every two years, arms dealers converge on London's Docklands for Defence Systems & Equipment International (DSEi) arms fair. It is an important event in the international military equipment sales calendar and is organised in association with the government's Defence Export Services Organisation (DESO).

In 2005 DSEi confirmed its position as one of the leading arms fairs in the world with around 1200 exhibitors from 36 countries. This was a growth of around 20% on 2005. It is a "tri-service defence exhibition", which means it is a forum for selling military equipment of all kinds for land, sea and air. Its organisers, Spearhead Ltd, a subsidiary of information giant Reed Elsevier, puts its mission like this:

"DSEi is a key event for the total supply chain providing a platform for the whole of the defence & military aerospace community... We aim to create the optimal business environment and recognise that DSEi fulfils an important role within the selling process for defence companies... We deliver: Well-organised top level international delegations, UK ministers and senior staff involved in UK defence procurement, [and] senior international visitors and military influencers..." (emphasis added)

DSEi's history

Between 1976 and 1991, the British Army Equipment Exhibition and the Royal Navy Equipment Exhibition were held on alternate years in Aldershot and Portsmouth respectively. Overseas delegations attended by invitation only, but those invited often included governments with such poor human rights records as Indonesia and Chile. Despite having been at war with Iran for almost six years, a five-strong delegation from Iraq was attended in 1986.

In 1993 the two exhibitions were combined and held every other year until New Labour decided to privatise the exhibition. Exhibitions company Spearhead launched the first DSEi in 1999 at Chertsey in Surrey. In 2001 it moved to its current location at the ExCel centre in the London borough of Newham.

Until 2003, DSEi had focused on land and marine technology, but in 2005 military technology was incorporated on a far greater scale, making up 25% of the exhibition.

Of course, just like on the railways, privatisation didn't mean the taxpayer stopped paying. Ministry of Defence estimated it would shell out £400,000 in 'direct costs', plus the time of many civil servants and army personnel (Hansard, 20/5/03).

Human rights abuses and official invitations

The government's DESO draws up the official invitation lists for DSEi, with a supplementary list drawn up by Spearhead. The governments of some of the world's worst human rights abusing states, including Colombia, Israel, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia were invited to DSEi in 2005. Their presence at DSEi not only gives them access to tools for further human rights abuses, but lends them political support and legitimises their actions.

In 2005, controversy was caused by the advertisement of leg irons, stun guns and stun batons by one company at the show. Despite their export being banned under British law, these items featured in the catalogue of Israeli company TAR Ideal. Another company, Denel offered cluster bombs for sale, despite DSEi's organisers claiming that they would not be marketed at the event.

The international trade in arms and its institutions fuel conflict around the world and encourage even the poorest countries to spend money on weapons systems rather than social services. In a very real sense, arms fairs like DSEi are the arms trade, which is why CAAT is wholly opposed to it.

This year's DSEi

DSEi 2007 will be held from September 11th - 14th. The world's military has again been promised that "products and services related to Homeland security, anti-terrorism, access control, and personal security" will be on display alongside rockets, tanks and machine guns.

Protests against DSEi

On the first day of the fair in 2005, CAAT organised a march through the streets of East Ham towards the Excel centre in which hundreds participated. Newham residents also took part in a silent candle-lit vigil for peace. Though the protests are non-violent, nonetheless over a thousand police were deployed as security for DSEi 2005, at a cost of £4.4 million. London Mayor Ken Livingstone is critical of the event and even the metropolitan police have spoken out about the cost of policing the event. This year CAAT will again be campaigning against DSEi, and we will be posting information about our plans on the website in the coming months.

If you want to join in activities opposing DSEi 2007, please visit the links at the bottom of the page.

Go to: Take Action | CAATnews article on DSEi
Download: DSEi 2005 Briefing (pdf, 800kb)